A little advice from my fellow Hexites

[kaillum]

well, i've not been around much lately, mainly i've lost my job, and have been searching high and low to get a new one...

so a week on monday I startin contractin... only problem is my first contact is gonna be 60 miles away from home.. so i'm thinking i need to get meself a diesel...

so, not to much cash to spend, i've got the option of

A) Vauxhall Astra 1.7 Turbo Diesel Sport. N Reg 1995, 92K, Alloys, CL, Airbags, Electic Windows and Full Service History.. £1995

B) Ford Mondeo 1.8 LX 5 Door Hatchback. P Reg, 1996, 79K, CL, Airbag, Electric Windows and Part Service History... £2995

now he'll take 1800 for the Astra Cash and 2800 for the Mondeo...

Insurance is negligable, and these are the only 2 cars i'm looking at, so dont be saying "what you want mate is a blah blah blah"

so... If it was your cash.. what would you spend it on..

[floppybootstomp]

imo, they're both good cars for your needs

long journeys, maybe the Mondeo is better, bigger car

but an extra grand for just 1 year younger and 13K miles?

dunno, really, I'd flip a coin or choose the one with the colour you prefer

OK, if pushed, I'd probably go for the Astra, then use the extra cash to give it a good service and a very thorough MOT, to see if anything needs putting right

[CocoPops]

Astra gets the vote here mate.

Smaller, lighter car and a Tdi too.
If you get a dull diesel mundano, you'll prolly regret it.

[Stringent]

I'd say Astra, you get more miles out of diesel and they keep going and going.

[Jiff Lemon]

Astra - Cos if you do have any problems, you can moan at Zak33 !!

[Shad]

Yup, deffo the Astra. WIll save you a fortune in fuel bills for one thing

[XTR]

Astra... cause i hate Ford Mondeo's.


1.7 TD engine is what the vectra has? Isuzu engine? Slow but good fuel economy.

[Skii]

Well don't get a Golf m8. You'll get lynched around here

[hotpurple]

I'm going to throw a spanner in the works here and say get the mondeo. They are a much better car all round.

Chris

[5lab]

arnt those prices pretty high for the car that your getting? im not massivly in touch but 2 grand for an 8 yr old astra seems pricey.

[Zak33]

Astra

theere are 2 diff engines at that age....

An Isuzu high pressure turbo unit (over 80 bhp) with an intercooler and its reasonably fast......a good engine

And a Vauxhall unit, low pressure turbo (60 ish bhp) with lots of really low down grunt but painfully slow other than that.

The Isuzu unit is the better car, but either are good for what you have described.

CHECK HOW HIGH THE CLUTCH BITES.,.....everyone seems to slip the clutch on old turbo diesels to get a quick pull away.....espeically the higher boost ones, cos they lag badly off boost......so see where it bites....a new one is quite big dough.

Astra 100% .... older Mondeos are not great..

[Zak33]

as its a SPort version (means sod all really, but nice seats and harder springs) its the higher power unit...deffo.

Go get it.

[Moby-Dick]

Zak was that the engine used in the fasted vehicle of all time , the AstraMax ?

[Zak33]

loma..no mate....

that was a normally apirated 1700 Diesel with little or no power or torque but which develops mystical powers when it reaches 200,000 miles of abuse...

All of a sudden, it becomes the fastest, stealithiest power house of all time.

A revelation.....especially if the footwells are so full of ciggy butts and ash, that you cant sit in it without a spade.

I dream of those....and the last thing about Astramax Vans before we get backon subject

Smallest fuel tank in the world....stupid bloody things

[Moby-Dick]

but can beat anythign at the lights - I remeber one fondly that I drove for the waterboard a few summers ago

[kaillum]

h'ok guys.. thanks for the advice...

the only thing thats putting me off the Astra is its in bright YEHAAA Yellow... at least it means everyone will be able to see me coming right?? :@)

gonna go and test drive them this mornin.. will letcha know how it goes..

cheers again....

k.